Antimicrobial blood pressure cuff

Abstract

This invention is directed to blood pressure cuff liners for reducing the possibility of infection to patients as a result of blood pressure measurements, and to methods of reducing such infections. The liners of the present invention provide a barrier between the patient and the blood pressure cuff used during blood pressure measurement, and also comprise chemical compounds that are able to eradicate most bacterial and viral pathogens, as well as fungi and molds. The liners of this invention are made to be disposable, but can be reused without risk to patients, because its pathogen-eradicating qualities protect patients from infection.

1 . A blood pressure cuff liner comprising:
 an organosilane antimicrobial compound or a silver containing compound or particle; and   a substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening system. 
     
     
         3 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 1 , wherein the organosilane antimicrobial compound is 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         4 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 3 , wherein the amount of 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride ranges from about 0.01% to 5.0%. 
     
     
         5 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 4 , further comprising a nonionic wetting agent. 
     
     
         6 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 5 , wherein the nonionic wetting agent comprises ethoxylated alcohol and glycol ethers. 
     
     
         7 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 2 , wherein the fastening system allows the liner to be secured to a patient's arm. 
     
     
         8 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 7 , wherein the fastening system comprises an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         9 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 2 , wherein the fastening system allows the liner to be secured to the blood pressure cuff. 
     
     
         10 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening system comprises an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         11 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tissue paper, polypropylene, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         12 . A blood pressure cuff liner comprising:
 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride or a silver nanoparticle;   a fastening system; and,   a substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 12 , wherein the fastening system comprises an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         14 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is tissue paper. 
     
     
         15 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is polypropylene. 
     
     
         16 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride ranges from about 0.01% to 5.0%. 
     
     
         17 . A kit comprising
 a plurality of blood pressure cuff liners comprising an organosilane antimicrobial compound or a silver containing compound or particle, a fastening system, and a substrate, wherein the blood pressure cuff liners are removably connected to one another to allow dispensing of the blood pressure cuff liners.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17  further comprising a package. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the organosilane compound is 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         20 . A method of reducing the possibility of infection from use of blood pressure cuffs comprising providing a blood pressure cuff liner comprising an organosilane compound or a silver containing compound or particle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising securing the liner to a patient. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising attaching the liner to the blood pressure cuff. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the organosilane compound is 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl-dimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising a wetting agent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the wetting agent is a non-ionic wetting agent. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the non-ionic wetting agent comprises ethoxylated alcohol and glycol ethers. 
     
     
         27 . The blood pressure cuff liner of  claims 1 , wherein the silver containing compound or particle comprises silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         28 . The blood pressure cuff line of  claim 27 , wherein the concentration of silver nanoparticles ranges from about 100 to about 3000 parts per million of silver. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the silver containing compound or particle comprises silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the silver containing compound or particle comprises silver nanoparticles.